Sonos is taking a step into the radio space with the launch of Sonos Radio, its new free streaming radio service.
Launching today with software update via the Sonos app, the idea is that the company’s 10 million+ customers will be able to tune into stations from the likes of Global and BBC, as well as stations from around the world including iHeartRadio in the US.
According to Sonos, nearly half of all listening time on its speakers is radio, so the new feature is a way to make it easier for customers to do just that. It also probably helps that the company is releasing the new feature at the moment when so many people are working from home. Global has seen online radio listening rise 15 per cent in the current lockdown, whilst for the BBC it’s up 18 per cent.
Speaking about the new feature, Sonos CEO Patrick Spence said: “Sonos Radio brings together streaming radio services and a select set of curated radio stations in a simple, elegant way. This is just a beginning as we work to deliver services that provide our customers a better experience, and provide our music streaming service partners an opportunity to highlight their best content.”
Alongside current radio stations, Sonos is also introducing its own radio programming in the form of Sonos Sound System, similar to Apple’s Beats 1 Radio. Curated and hosted by the Sonos team at the company’s new studio in its New York store, listeners will be able to tune into a mix of new and well-known music and chatter. Prominent artists have also been invited to take part in their own radio hours, including the likes of Thom Yorke, Angel Olsen and Phoebe Bridgers. Look out for the artist radio hours every Wednesday.
In addition, Sonos Stations is made up around 30 ad-supported stations inspired by the favourite genres of Sonos’s owner. These include Concert Hall, Country Outlaws and Kids Rock. The company teamed up with Super H-Fi, a company known for delivering AI for digital music, to facilitate the service for things such as volume levelling across songs and ads, and song blending.
There are over 100 new services to listen to via Sonos Radio so it should keep you busy. The new feature will start rolling out from today, with the original programming available in the UK, US, Canada, Ireland and Australia to start.
Get ready to tune in.
